Claire Russell Lines, 78, of Standish, Maine, died May 2 at the Maine Veterans' Home in Scarborough. He was born in Jackson, Mich., July 23, 1935, and was a son of Mildred (Ludlow) and Russell Lines. He and his four siblings grew up on the family farm on King Road in Spring Arbor, Mich.

His beloved wife Patricia (Dennett) Lines; his daughters Theresa “Terry” Ferris, and her husband Charlie, of Newtown, and Cheryl O’Dea, and her husband John, of Cheshire; his son William Lines of Cheshire; his stepchildren Richard Green, and his wife Julie, of Scarborough and Debora Green-Oddy of Scarborough; his brother Donald Lines of Washington state; his sisters Virginia Tooley, and her husband Bill, of Jackson, Mich., and Helen Thompson, and her husband Derald, of Parma, Mich.; nine grandchildren; his uncle Ray Ludlow; 18 nieces and nephews; and several cousins survive Mr Lines. His sister Ruth Irene Oppel predeceased him.

After graduating from Parma High School in 1953, Mr Lines proudly enlisted in the US Navy and later again served, this time in the Air National Guard. He retired as a master sergeant in 1995, with a total of more than 25 years of military service.

He worked as a carpenter, building and remodeling homes throughout New England, and as a self-employed acoustical ceiling contractor. He spent 11 years in the Volunteer Fire Department of Prospect, Conn., before moving to Maine in 1984, where he was a volunteer for the Town of Standish Fire/EMS Rescue and the Standish Volunteers in Police Service. He also regularly volunteered at the soup kitchen in Portland, and previously served as president of the New England Unit of Airstream owners.

He enjoyed building furniture in his wood shop, hunting, and fishing across New England, reading history, and driving across the country with his wife in their Airstream trailer. He also loved spending time with his family at the camp he remodeled on the sunny side of Watchic Lake in Maine.

His family would like to send a very special thank you to the Maine Veterans’ Home of Scarborough staff for their loving and compassionate care.

Services with military honors will be held in Buxton, Maine, Saturday, May 10, at the Dennett, Craig & Pate Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his name to The Standish Fire/EMS Central Station Association, 175 Northeast Road, Standish Maine, 04084.